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Special Education and Teaching at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,773/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 13.5x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #47 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Special Education and Teaching graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $547K $541K $512K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.7x 13.5x 12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 4.7x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,780
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $48,773 per year, Special Education and Teaching graduates from Purdue University-Main Campus earn slightly above the $44,105 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 13.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,000 debt-to-$48,773 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #47 out of 170 programs, Purdue University-Main Campus's Special Education and Teaching offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue University-Main Campus accepts 50% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 39,637 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →

Top Career Paths

Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr
Special education teachers, secondary school $69,590/yr
Special education teachers, all other $67,430/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 170 schools offering Special Education and Teaching →

Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools

Pace University ($62,346) Utah State University ($61,474) University of Hawaii at Manoa ($60,396) Florida Atlantic University ($56,009) Syracuse University ($55,881) Miami Dade College ($53,935) Towson University ($53,331) Nevada State University ($53,159)

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Computer Science ($94,786) Computer Engineering ($89,965) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,300) Industrial Engineering ($81,379) Chemical Engineering ($81,105) Mechanical Engineering ($80,374) Materials Engineering ($78,265) Construction Engineering ($76,966)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Special Education and Teaching trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Purdue University-Main Campus's Special Education and Teaching program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Special Education and Teaching graduates.
How vulnerable is Special Education and Teaching to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Special Education and Teaching careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →